After a brief lull, the CPI-Maoist rebels made their presence felt in West Singhbhum district and Ghatshila sub-division in East Singhbhum that led to death of a villager and encounter with police, respectively.
In West Singhbhum’s Jatia police station area, a squad of Naxals entered a house in Badagudru village on Friday and forced the house owner to come out of his house at the wee hours. The ultras, which comprised 10 members shot him dead at a little distance away from his house. The incident took place in Jatia police station area, about 120 Kms away from here.
The deceased was identified as Rupesh Chandra Gope (40), a farmer. The police recovered the body and sent it to the Chaibasa Sadar Hospital for post-mortem.
When contacted, Michael Raj, superintendent of police, West Singhbhum confirmed about the naxal-sponsored gruesome act and said that the assailants had suspicion that Rupesh would work as a police informer against the rebels.
“Yes Rupesh was close with the police, creating an impression among the rebels that he was a police informer. The rebels have killed the man, suspecting to be the informer,” said Raj. He said the police and para-military forces were carrying out a combing operation at Jatia police station area to trace the rebels.
In another incident, para-military forces and Maoist rebels had an encounter at Tikri Pahad in Burudih under Ghatshila police station area last afternoon.
According to police, the encounter took place as a company of para-military force, CRPF, was combing operation in rebel-infested Burudih dam area and at the adjoining Tikri Pahad close to Bengal border, the rebel squad belonging to Rahul had launched the gun-shot attack.
According to information, the security personnel recovered a six-round loaded 303 Rifle looted from the police in the past, a pistol, gelatin sticks, explosives including bomb making material, and naxal literatures from the camp, among others.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Anoop T Mathew said the raids followed after exchange of 350 rounds of fire between the two sides. While the ultras fired 200 rounds, the security personnel fired 150 rounds in return.
Superintendent of police (Rural) Shailendra Kumar Sinha said that as the CRPF fired in retaliation, causing the rebels to flee the spot. “ As per our information the rebel were moving inside Ghatshila to get some serious plan executed,” said Sinha.
Meanwhile, security personnel have been asked to maintain strict vigil on the movement of people in vulnerable areas. He also informed that the forces were carrying out special operations in the naxal infested areas of Ghatshila and Ghurabandha to keep the rebels confined in their hideouts. Security forces have launched intensive operations against the ultras in the naxal infested areas too.